by SJ McCoy
“How about you? Where’s this hottie you were telling me about?”
Mary Ellen shook her head rapidly and looked around the table to make sure no one had heard. “Shall we take a trip to the ladies’ room?”
Piper got up and followed her. “Sorry. I take it your crush is a secret crush?”
“Totally secret. Well, Cam and Chelsea both know, but no one else can.”
“Why not? Who is he? All you told me was that your dreamy guy was going to be here.”
Mary Ellen stopped and turned back to scan the room. “Okay, now that we’re out of earshot, I can tell you that he’s Cam and Chelsea’s cousin. His name is Antonio. He owns a winery in Sonoma County. There he is.”
Piper followed her gaze. “Oh! Sexy! Very Italian looking.”
Mary Ellen grinned. “Yep. He’s Sicilian. His family are all winemakers, too. His brother runs the family winery in Sicily.”
“And they’re the Hamiltons’ cousins?”
“Yes. Mrs. H’s brother married a Sicilian lady and moved over there.”
“I see.” She touched Mary Ellen’s arm. “Should we go and say hello?”
“Hell, no!” Mary Ellen turned and scurried away toward the bathrooms.
Piper laughed as she followed her. “How’s anything going to happen if you’re not even going to talk to him?”
“It isn’t. That’s the point,” said Mary Ellen as she pushed open the bathroom door. “I like to look, but that’s all. I’m not going to embarrass myself by attempting to talk to him.”
“Why?”
“Because. Just because.” Mary Ellen laughed. “Look at me, and look at the women he’s talking to. He’s one of those guys who has the best of everything. He no doubt has his Maserati sitting outside. The suit he’s wearing probably cost more than I’ve spent on clothes my entire life, and the women he dates are usually models or actors.”
Piper made a face. “So, you’re beautiful. You’re smart. If he only likes the best, then he’ll like you.”
Mary Ellen shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not pulling a poor me or thinking I’m not good enough. Not by a long shot. What I’m saying is that I find him incredibly attractive—physically. But as a human being, he doesn’t appeal much at all. I think he’s pretty shallow.”
“Oh!”
“Don’t look like that. Just because someone looks good on the outside, doesn’t mean they have a good heart inside.”
“No, you’re right there.”
Mary Ellen leaned against the wall and smiled. “You do, though, and so does Cam. You two are made for each other.”
Piper smiled and ducked into one of the stalls. She didn’t know what to say to that. She didn’t know what to think. She was still trying to process what Cam had said earlier—about her being the woman he loved. She kept letting her mind edge closer to it, but then she stopped herself. In order to really think about it, she’d have to face the question of whether she loved him. Part of her wasn’t ready to. Part of her already knew the answer but wasn’t sure what to do with it.
Mary Ellen’s phone started to ring. “I’m going to take this outside,” she called. “I’ll see you back at the table.”
“Okay.” Piper wasn’t fast enough to go out to join her, she was too busy trying to wiggle back into her dress. She heard the door open and close and then it opened again.
“Can you believe it?”
“No. I knew he wasn’t just going up to see his brother. You know what Cam’s like. There had to be a girl he was doing.”
Piper held her breath. Whoever was out there, they were talking about her!
“Yeah, but the fact that he’s still doing her? That he’s brought her here tonight—and she’s working for him? I can’t believe it.”
“She’s only filling in for Gene, though, right?”
“Yes, but that could mean she’s going to be around for a while. Who knows if Gene’s even going to come back. Do you want him flying you around when he has his next heart attack?”
“God, no!”
“You don’t think Cam could be serious about her, do you? I mean, she is sitting with him and his parents.”
Piper leaned closer, wondering what the other one’s answer might be.
“Don’t be silly. He’s way too much of a player to get serious. Maybe she’s great in the sack, and he’s stringing her along, so she’ll stick around a while, but he’ll soon get bored. He’ll be back in my bed before long. I guarantee it. She’s nothing special.”
Anger bubbled up inside Piper. She opened the door and smiled at the two women standing there. “Sorry to disappoint you ladies, but what Cam and I have is something very special. I can guarantee you, he won’t be back in your bed—ever again.”
One of the women looked embarrassed, but the other one gave her a filthy look. “You’re the one who’s going to end up disappointed. What makes you think you’re so special? We’ve all slept with him, and we all know that he moves on, and he’ll come back around again.”
“Not this time.”
“Don’t fool yourself. Just because he’s giving you the whole red wine and roses experience now, it won’t last. Soon, you’ll just be another number he calls when he feels like a change from his latest conquest.”
Piper scowled at her. “You’re just bitter because he’s moved on from you.”
The woman had the audacity to laugh. “No, I’m just impatient, waiting for him to be done with you.”
Piper let herself out of the bathroom. She didn’t need to stick around for any more of that. She hurried back through the foyer and found Cameron waiting for her in the doorway. “Are you okay? Piper?”
She was shaking, she hadn’t realized it until she stopped. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. What happened?”
“I just ran into a couple of your old girlfriends who wanted to warn me that you’ll soon be back in their beds.”
Cameron put his hands on her shoulders and looked down into her eyes. “I’m sorry. I tried to warn you something like that might happen.”
She blew out a sigh and managed to give him a smile. “You did, and I shouldn’t be mad at you, but I am.”
He nodded. “I can understand that.”
“Why do you always have to be so damned understanding?”
He smiled. “You’re the one who’s being understanding. I think some women would storm out on me over that.”
She scowled at him. “And you’d know how most women react because you’ve slept with so many of them.”
His shoulders sagged, but he didn’t answer. He could hardly deny it, but anything he said would only incriminate him further.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry. That was a low blow.”
“I deserve it.”
She stared at him. Why was he so sweet? He didn’t get mad; he didn’t argue. He just understood and waited for her to calm down.
“Do you want to go home?”
She shook her head. She really didn’t. Those women had upset her, but she didn’t want to let them ruin the evening. “No. I want you to come and dance with me. I want you to help me feel like it’s crazy for me to listen to them instead of feeling like I do right now—that I’m crazy not to listen to them.”
He took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor. He slid his arms around her waist and drew her to him. “I’m sorry.”
“You already said that.”
“And I mean it.” He chuckled. “I love you.”
She drew back and looked up into his eyes. “You already said that, too.”
“And I mean it. I’m going to keep saying it until you believe me.”
She had to smile. She already did.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “What are you thinking?”
“That I love you, too.”
“You do?”
“I do. I know what you are—or at least what you were. But that’s not why you’re with me.” She chuckled. “If all you wanted was the sex, then you�
�d still be sleeping with the women here—you wouldn’t have to go all the way to Summer Lake for that.”
He smiled through pursed lips. “Finally. You get it!”
“I do. I think I’ve known it for a while, but it’s scary, too. What if I trust you and I’m wrong. What if give you my heart and you break it?”
“I won’t. I promise you, I’ll do everything I can to make you happy, and if you put your trust in me, I won’t ever let you down.”
She smiled. She believed him. “But where does it leave us?”
He shrugged. “That’s up to you. I’d like you to stay here, but I know you’ve just started a new life in Summer Lake.”
“And I have that amazing house!”
He chuckled. “How can I compete with that?”
She laughed. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just thinking of all the factors involved.”
“I know, and if you do stay here, there are more factors. Like you’d be working for me, and I’d never be able to get any work done. I can’t focus on anything when you’re flying the guys around.”
She raised an eyebrow at him.
“I get jealous!”
“You do?”
“Yeah, I’m not proud of it, but I do.”
“I guess you’ll just have to trust me like I’ll have to trust you.”
“I guess you’re right.”
Chapter Nineteen
They were sitting having breakfast the next morning when Piper’s phone rang.
She smiled at Cameron. “It’s Smoke.”
He nodded, wondering what he wanted to talk to her about.
“Hey,” she answered. “Yeah. It’s all good … I don’t know. I’m kind of waiting for someone to tell me that.”
She looked over at Cameron, and he smiled, guessing that Cole was asking her how long she was going to stay here.
“Okay.” She put her hand over the phone. “Do you want to go over there this afternoon? I need to check on the house and get some more clothes and things.”
He nodded. And no doubt Cole had asked if they’d go. “Sure.”
“Okay. I’ll call you when we get there.”
She hung up and pursed her lips.
“Does he want to know when you’re coming back?”
“Kind of. He needs to know what I want to do. They have a lot of flights to cover this week. He could use me over there.” She met his gaze. “I don’t know what flights you need covering this week. I don’t know if either of us think it’d be a good idea for me to work for you.”
“We’ll figure it out. First, we should see what Cole wants and needs. He’s still your employer, and I don’t want to screw you or him over.”
Cameron was getting used to the flight to Summer Lake. He’d done it so often in the last few weeks. He looked out the windows at the mountains as Piper turned the plane onto its final approach to the little airport. “This place is great.”
She nodded but didn’t reply as she brought the plane in to land. Once they’d touched down, she smiled. “It is, and I have one of the nicest houses in town.”
He chuckled. “You’re making me worry that you won’t want to give it up.”
He didn’t miss the wistful look on her face. “It’s hard to believe that a couple of months ago, I had nothing going on in my life that I really enjoyed. Now I have so many great options that I don’t want to give any of them up.”
Cameron smiled as a thought hit him. Why should she have to give anything up? Surely, they could find a way to make it all work?
“What? What are you looking so smug about?” she asked as she cut the engine.
He shrugged. “I think I just had a great idea, but I’ll tell you about it when I’m sure.”
She laughed. “I hope you figure it out soon—the smile on your face says it’s a great idea I need to know about.”
He hoped it was, but he needed to talk to Cole first and to figure out a few other details before he could even put it to her as an idea she might be interested in.
Cole greeted them as they came through the doors from the ramp.
“Thanks for coming over.” He smiled at Piper. “I figured you’d probably want to check in on your new place, so I don’t feel too bad for making you both come out here.”
“Yes. I’m anxious to see it. Laura’s been so good about checking on the place for me.”
Cole grinned. “I can safely say it’s been her pleasure. She’s fallen in love with the place, and I can see why. She thinks we should buy it once your lease is up.”
Cam hated the way Piper’s face fell at that news. “Why? You guys have a great place of your own.”
Cole laughed. “That’s what I said, but it’s a great house, and it’s so close to the airport and to town. It’d be perfect for us in that respect. Hey, don’t look so sad. We’re not trying to steal it out from under you. It’s your place. You have the lease on it.”
Piper smiled. “I know, and it’s not like I’m ever going to buy it. Anyway, we’re not here to talk about that. We need to figure out where I’m working next week, don’t we?”
Cole nodded. “Next week and beyond.”
“I guess it’s up to the two of you, really, isn’t it?”
Cameron didn’t like that. He wanted her to feel that she was the one in charge of her own destiny. Cole caught his eye. It seemed that he felt the same way. Piper might be an employee, but she was also a friend.
“I think you’re the one the calling the shots,” said Cole.
Cameron chuckled. “In more ways than one.”
“What do you mean?” asked Cole.
Cameron looked at Piper. “Can I tell him?”
She nodded.
“We’re trying to figure out a way to be together.”
Cole grinned at him and then at Piper. “That’s awesome. Then there’s your answer. You should fly for Cam. Easy.” Piper made a face and Cole’s grin faded. “Not so easy? Why not?”
She shook her head. “For a lot of reasons. I work for you. I don’t want to let you down. Plus, I love it here. I just got my new house and my new life.”
“And she’s not sure she wants to give it all up for me just yet,” added Cameron.
Cole smiled. “I can see that. You need time to know it’s the right move, right?”
Piper nodded. “Yes. I think it’s the right move, but there’s one more factor.”
“What’s that?”
She blew out a sigh. “I don’t think I like the idea of working for him.” She smiled at Cameron.
Cole laughed. “I don’t know a woman who would be. Can you imagine how Laura would feel about working for me?”
They both laughed at that. “Nope. I can’t imagine that at all,” said Piper.
Cole looked at Cam. “Neither can I. You don’t need that kind of imbalance in a relationship.”
“So, what are you saying?” Disappointment was settling in his stomach. It felt like Cole and Piper were both saying she should stay here.
Cole grasped his shoulder. “Don’t look like that. I think I have a solution for you. How about you contract out the flight services—now that Gene’s not around. Contract them to me, and I can provide your pilots. That’ll be Piper when she wants it to be, but it could also be me or one of the other guys when she doesn’t.”
Piper smiled. “I like that idea.”
Cameron wasn’t sure he did. He felt like it was giving her an out. He gave a rueful smile. It felt that way because that was exactly what Cole was doing—giving her an out if she wanted it, and him, too. He nodded. “It sounds like the sensible move to me.”
Cole grinned. “I think I might be landing myself in the middle of something, but I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t think it would all work out in the end.”
“Thanks.” Cameron hoped that he was right.
“So, now we’ve got that sorted out. Where do you want to work this week, Piper?”
She smiled. “I think I could make myself useful in Na
pa.”
Cameron smiled, too. For a moment he’d wondered if she was going to say she wanted to stay here.
“Okay. Well, that’s all I need to know. I’ll work on the rest, and we can get together during the week, Cam.”
“Thanks.”
He followed Piper out to the parking lot where her car had been sitting all week. “Is this still the same rental car?”
“Yeah. I need to figure something out. I need to return it instead of paying for it to sit here the whole time.”
“You do. We can get you a company vehicle to use.”
She laughed. “I can get my own, thank you.”
“I know, but you don’t need to buy two cars, do you?”
She shook her head, not understanding. “If you’re going to be splitting your duties between here and Napa, you’re going to need a car there, too.”
“Wow. I guess I will.”
“So, we’ll go shopping for one this week.”
“Thanks.”
~ ~ ~
When they got to the house, Piper opened the front door and let them in.
“How does it feel to be home?”
She laughed. “It doesn’t really feel like home yet, and I’m not sure it’s going to get the chance to.” She’d only spent one night here, last Saturday with Cam.
He nodded. “I felt bad when Cole talked about them buying it.”
“Yeah, me too. I shouldn’t; I know someone’s going to buy it once my lease is up, but I don’t want to have to think about it yet. And knowing it might be them who buy it, I don’t think I’ll be able to settle in at all, you know? It’ll be like I’m just keeping it warm for them until they’re ready.”
Cam came and wrapped his arms around her. “Aww, I don’t like that for you. I want you to feel like you belong.”
She smiled up at him. “I’m starting to, only right here.” She tightened her arms around his waist. “With you. It’s not the house that matters, it’s who you share it with.”
He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Speaking of which, do you want to share my house with me?”
She bit her lip. “Do you mean that? Wouldn’t it be better if I got my own place there?”
He shook his head. “The company can get you a place, and I think we should, just so you’ve got the option if you want it. But I’d rather think that was just a safety net for you. I’d rather you move in with me when you’re there. If you’d like …?”
